Robotics Are for Girls Too!
Middle-school girls from across Northeast Ohio spent a day learning robotics at Magnificat High School. The event proved that LEGOs and robots aren’t just for boys any more! About 75 girls in grades 5-8 from public and private schools came together for Magnifibot 2.0, a LEGO Robotics Day just for girls put on by Magnificat and the Great Lakes Science Center. This is the second year that the two institutions have partnered for this event.
Working in groups of two or three, the girls assembled a NXT-powered LEGO robot, and then programmed the robots’ motion and speed to complete an obstacle course. The day’s events allowed teammates to work collaboratively to put their problem-solving skills to the test. Magnificat's teachers and students were on hand to guide the teams throughout the day’s 23 steps.
Magnificat’s Science Department Chairperson Mrs. Lori Koss said one of the best things about the event is the energy of the girls. She hopes that the message the attendees receive is “you can do anything and that STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) careers are wide open for women.”
Mr. Ian Roberts, director of youth and family engagement at Great Lakes Science Center, said that events like this help foster interest in science and math, especially for girls who are on the cusp of attending high school, where curricula usher in a broader range of subjects and social pressures escalate.
Magnifibot 2.0 echoed Magnificat High School’s approach to teaching, bringing together girls from a wide array of schools and communities to learn, lead and serve.
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